“iFixIt notes that, although it looks similar, it’s not a standard Torx screw. Worse, there are no readily available screwdrivers that can remove it,” O’Grady reports. “Even iFitIt’s own 54-bit driver kit doesn’t have the pentalobe-head screwdriver, adding to the frustration.”
MacDailyNews Take: Actually, iFixtit’s US$9.95 “iPhone 4 Liberation Kit” allows users to to replace Pentalobe screws with Phillips screws (which, of course, is why this story is likely being floated in the first place.)
O’Grady reports, “Pentalobular screws first appeared in the mid-2009 MacBook Pro to prevent you from replacing the the battery and Apple is using a similar screw on the outer case of the current MacBook Air. Obviously, it’s Apple perogative to do as they choose, but it’s like DRM and copy-protection before that, it’s not going to stop a determined individual. So, what’s the point?”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Apple simply strives to be cutting edge, right down to the screws. 
News flash: these five-pointed star-shaped screws have been shown in Apple’s iPhone 4 marketing materials since day one. This is NOT what people are trying to make it out to be.
Pentalobe-gate! BLoggers: FLIP OUT!
Gives new meaning to “jailbreaking your iPhone.”
RE: My last comment – The image that’s been on Apple’s site for a LOOOONG TIME.
Or…it’s just another way Apple tries to “screw” the consumer to prevent choice.
You have to be freakin kidding me. You guys are b@tching because Apple changed the screws? I mean seriously, people are acting like Apple just took away your rights. There very few reasons that you need to take your iPhone apart.
I’ll start complaining when Apple starts using weird screws in a Mac Pro…
If the reason for the switch is tamper-proof, then these screws are an odd choice. Tamper-proof 5-pointed Torx has a pin in the middle, but it has been around for quite some time, with the tools available (not wide-range, but still), which would also drive these.
No, the true reason for them to use this screws appears to be much less sinister. In case you haven’t noticed, Apple has to make a shitload of product, and is switching to metal in their products — aluminum unibodies on Macs, steel bands on iPhones etc.That introduces wear, not only on the screws, but also on the tools that are used in the production line. Anything that will reduce this wear saves money. Thus, Torx. 5-lobed for torque coupling, or the readily available screw size. Another 5-lobe reason may be simply that it reduces live-shortening oscillations on the motor-axis of the machine used to mount the screws (no joke, the reason fans should have odd number of blades is exactly that).
“Another 5-lobe reason may be simply that it reduces live-shortening oscillations on the motor-axis of the machine used to mount the screws”
so true..
I have seen cheap toys and even electronics come straight out of the packing, with semi-stripped screws.
But this is to me anyway, a “who cares” story.
everyone does these things, many reasons behind them. consumer tampering is just one.
Could have been one of those “replace the Phillips screws with these new ones, and we solve or address 7 issues at once”
Sure you can buy the tool anyway, but how many people WILL go out and buy one?
odds are the number of people that would take the iPhone apart, cut in half. (or more) those that buy the tool, would buy any tool just to be able to tear something apart. I have all the security/tamper/etc bits myself, and i’ll probably add this to my set also.. not that i need to tear open my iPhone, but i’m sure someday i’ll need to tear open my MBP to replace a HD or something.
Now if i were to go to my parents… I bet my Dad already has the bits needed. and he doesn’t even have any Apple product..
He thanks buddy for sharing nice information to us.
http://parentalcontrolsoftwaresite.org/
I just upped the memory in my 2010 MBP and it had Phillips screws in it. Tiny to work but no issues. Was done in 5 minutes with a std little Phillips screwdriver.
Good, its not cool to open a mac thats been tampered with, makes my work extra hard… I have my new pentalobular drivers, theyre smaller than the first ones
“iFixtit’s” too. Fer free!
OH GOD! My Super Nintendo games have weird screws too! How am I supposed to replace the backup battery? Nintendo just wants me to buy a new copy of Final Fantasy III !!! NINTENDO HATES ITS CUSTOMERS! :-\
I really can’t believe the hyperventilating some people are experiencing over SCREWS. Buy the iFixit kit, problem solved forever. I mean, nobody raised a stink when they had to go out and by a Torx set to work on their iBooks, eMacs, iMacs, etc…
I find it funny that most of you didn’t even seem to read the article.
If Apple wants to ship products with a special screwdriver that’s fine by me. But when you take your product in to have it serviced and they swap out the screws without telling you, that is bullshit. If Ford replaced the lug nuts on your car when you got it serviced so you had to go to Ford to get your tires changed they would get their asses sued.
@Scrapdroid – It doesn’t have the correct driver. it has a 5 pointed star driver that kinda fits and lets you hack out the pentalobes.
Just thinking, I just realized those are all (in both iPhone and MacBook) visible screws. They’re on the outside, and that makes them design elements. I bet Jonathan Ive picked them, just for looks and the benefits for production (no cam out, less stripping on the factory floor, increased tool lifetime etc.). Sure, he could have chosen Torx, but, you see, they’re symmetrical, which means they have to be aligned to the edges….
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Just looked at my recently repaired by Apple unibody MBP 13 (mid 2009). Came from the factory with Phillips, still has Phillips. Looked at the SOs iPhone 4 (bought in September) Phillips. No pentalobular (it is sort of a special word) screws here.
Talk about getting screwed!
Because this gives Apple haters something to write about?
Caman…